b'GENERAL AVIATIONISM | TXK35cameras, equipment and additional personnel would be moreVortex of Vitriolexpensive, and those costs would be passed on to airport users.Although multiple companies offer systems that use ADS-B data to record tail numbers and help airports collect fees, pilot organizations Nothing New Under the Sun and online groups frustrated about the practice seem to largely direct Despite the current upheaval about airports collecting fees fortheir anger toward Vector and even Coleton personally. landing, parking, etc., technology to capture aircraft tail numbersVector is not the bad guy, Mehrlich asserts. Vector does not has been available for more than 20 years. The first installationset the fees or weights. If the fee is too high, thats on the airport. I of PLANEPASS occurred at Hanscom Field (BOS) in 2005acan also call them to waive a fee. relationship that continues to this day. Worldwide, nearly 100 commercial and general aviation airports currently use the VectorMehrlich posits that the established practice of paying airfield system to automatically perform services that would otherwise takefees may not have trickled down from commercial and corporate staff hours or days to accomplish.sectors to general aviation operators that use Part 91 airports. He Pete Coleton, president and chief executivesays he realizes that landing fees may be unfamiliar to some small officer of Vector, highlights the inherentaircraft owners, but also understands the irritation of others who efficiency of managing billing for that manyhave spent the time and money to install ADS-B equipment as airports, because a single aircraft is likely torequired. That is frustrating for an airport, because we do need incur landing fees at multiple locations in ato collect fees to be able to pave the runway, says Mehrlich. The given month. If theyre a big enough flightNetJets and FlexJets, who are really good about paying [for airfield department, Vector might be contacting themuse], are now taking the brunt of the landing fees that these other on behalf of 20 airports, Coleton remarks.PETE COLETON guys are sort of getting away with.So if you can imagine, one billing system, oneSkirting the Systempayment system where it can have one payment for 20 airportsthere is a significant efficiency created by that. Larger flightAmid the heated disagreement about using technology to collect departments love us for that efficiency.airfield fees, some pilots have hinted they might disable their ADS-B Out when approaching airports due to privacy concerns.ENGINEERS & PLANNERSMORE THAN A CONSULTANTA trusted partner, passionate about aviation, dedicated to the industry, and committed to your airportExplore our website.407-599-1122www.avconinc.comAirportImprovement.comJuly | August 2025'